Free Billy: Messenger of Powers by Michaelbrent Collings

“Interesting.” He paused, then the water Power told Billy, “Did you know my koala rents paperclips for potato chips?”
    Billy had a sudden, crazy urge to reply, “No, but if you sing the first part of it maybe I can follow along,” but managed to ignore that impulse. Everyone was still looking at him, and he suspected that no one would think that was a very funny response to Wade’s incomprehensible question.
    At last, Ivy cleared her throat. “Well,” she said. “I think we can agree that his Glimmer reaction to nonsense is minimal. What about pronunciation?” She looked at Billy. “Say ‘magic.’”
    “Magic,” repeated Billy dutifully.
    Eva tsk tsked loudly. “He certainly fails that test. Didn’t say it with the silent ‘q’ at all.” She turned an angry eye on Mrs. Russet. “I can’t believe you’ve wasted my time like this. Perhaps you could try taking an antacid next time you feel inclined to bring in a nonPower for testing.”
    “I’m telling you, Eva, I felt something that first day. Something unusual. Something I’ve never felt before.” Mrs. Russet stared at all the other Powers, challenge flashing from her eyes. “He needs to be tested. He needs a Gleaning.”
    Vester put a placating hand out. “I’m sure no one challenges your sensitivity in these matters, Lumilla,” he said, casting a glance at Eva that seemed to say quite clearly “except her.” But out loud he merely continued, “But do you really think it’s worth the risk to do a Gleaning?”
    Mrs. Russet crossed her arms. Billy recognized that movement. A student in her history class had once told her he needed another day to turn in a project that was due. Mrs. Russet had crossed her arms just that way, and Billy knew at that moment that the student’s request was doomed. The crossed arms meant that Mrs. Russet had made up her mind and wouldn’t be budged.
    “I do think it’s worth the risk to do a Gleaning,” she answered. “I think it’s worth that risk, and more. I’ll be his Sponsor, if that makes a difference.”
    The other Powers in the room all looked visibly surprised by his announcement. Ivy nodded. “Well, if you’re going to be his Sponsor, then the decision is yours.” She looked at Billy, gesturing to the table in the center of the room. “Billy, please lay down here.”
    Billy looked askance at Mrs. Russet, who nodded, then he moved timidly to the tabletop.
    Vester moved to stand by the candle at one end of the table. “Head up here,” he said, pointing at the candle before him, “and feet down there,” continued the fireman, nodding at the bowl of water at the other end of the table. Billy did as Vester told him, watching as the six Powers in the room took up positions all around him. Vester remained at his head, the watery Wade moved to Billy’s feet. Eva Black and Ivy stood on either side of him, and Mrs. Russet and Tempus stood just behind Ivy.
    Looking up at the group, he realized for the first time that all of them wore badges like his and Mrs. Russet’s. Vester’s, Tempus’s, and Ivy’s badges all said their names, followed by the word “Dawnwalker,” just like Mrs. Russet’s did. The badges that Wade and Eva Black both wore, however, said something different: “Darksider.”
    “What’s a Dawnwalk—?” began Billy.
    “Hush,” said Mrs. Russet. She waited a moment as Eva, Tempus, Vester, Wade, and Ivy all closed their eyes at the same time and suddenly became motionless as statues. They even looked harder somehow, like they were no longer people, but perfect reproductions of themselves made of rock or steel.
    Mrs. Russet looked at Billy. “Yes?”
    Billy couldn’t remember what his question had been, so he settled for what he figured would be a good second-place question: “What is going on?” He was surprised how calm he sounded, considering the fact that he was waiting to have who-knows-what done to him by people who had walked out of water, fire, a tornado, a